FILE PHOTO: Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
MANILA, Philippines — House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list were able to send P117 million worth of assistance to areas hit by Typhoon Egay, sourcing it from the Speaker’s personal calamity fund and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) program.
Romualdez in a statement on Wednesday said the assistance to areas in Northern Luzon would start by Thursday.
According to Romualdez’ office, P22 million of the P117 million relief and financial assistance would come from the Speaker’s personal calamity fund which was raised from contributions given by his friends during his birthday celebration in 2022.
Meanwhile, the remaining P95 million will be released from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the DSWD, under former House member and now Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
“We hope the aid will ease the pain and suffering of our people who are affected by the super howler,” Romualdez said.
The Speaker’s wife, Tingog Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, meanwhile said that the relief and financial assistance shows the “compassion of the House leadership and its commitment to help our people in distress”.
“We hope our kababayan in the north and their communities are able to recover fast from this adversity,” she said.
According to Romualdez’ office, the financial and relief aid to Egay-stricken areas came from the following lawmakers:
- Ilocos Norte 1st District (represented by Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos): P1 million cash assistance, P2 million relief goods (5,000 packs); and P10 million AICS
- Ilocos Sur, 2nd District (represented by Deputy Speaker Kristine Singson Meehan): P1 million cash, P2 million relief goods (5,000 packs); and P10 million AICS
- Cagayan, 1st District (Rep. Ramon C. Nolasco Jr.): P2 million cash, P4 million relief goods (10,000 packs); and P20 million AICS
- Cagayan, 2nd District (Rep. Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso): P1 million cash assistance, P4 million relief goods (10,000 food packs); and P20 million AICS
- Ilocos Sur, 1st District (Rep. Ronald Singson): P5 million AICS
- Cagayan, 3rd District (Rep. Joseph Lara): P1 million cash, P1 million in relief goods (2,500 food packs); and P10 million AICS
- Benguet, Lone District (Rep. Eric Yap): P10 million in AICS; P500,000 in cash assistance, and P1 million worth of relief goods (2,500 food packs)
- Baguio City (Rep. Mark Go): P500,000 cash, P1 million in relief goods (2,500 food packs); and P10 million in AICS
Several towns in the country’s northern provinces have been hit with either floods or landslides, after Typhoon Egay moved past the eastern area of Luzon. Earlier, Yap called on assistance from the national government as there have been reports of individuals who have either died or gone missing amid Egay’s onslaught.
On Wednesday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) confirmed that Egay made landfall over Aparri, Cagayan. During that time, Egay packed maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gusts of up to 240 kph.
By noon, Pagasa said Egay made a second landfall over the same town in Cagayan.
READ: Typhoon Egay makes a second landfall in Aparri, Cagayan – Pagasa
READ: Super Typhoon Egay pummels Northern Luzon
As of now, the official tally from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed that a woman from Cardona, Rizal died due to a flash flood.
READ: NDRRMC: Woman reported dead due to Typhoon Egay-induced flash flood in Rizal